Can feeder for vertical coolers



July'16, 1929. A. R. THOMPSON 1,721,

CAN FEEDER FOR VERTICAL COOLERS I Filed May 7, 1927 Figi.

,zz g 11 1a 1a INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 16, 1929.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

AILBEB'I B. THOMPSON, OF SAN JOSE, .CALIII'O RNIA, ASSIGNOIR. T ANDERSON-BARN- GBOVEB MFG; GO., OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, .A CORPORATION OF GAIJIIOBINIIIK.

V GAIN FEEDER FOR VERTICAL GOQLERS.

Application filed Kay 7, 1927. Serial No. 189,724.

axis and forming an annular chamber between them within which is an-ascending helical track upon which the cans are adapted to roll on their sides. The track is formed of spaced rails and the cans are propelled along it by a reel comprlsing'a gun series, of parallel spaced pusher bars, said bars being disposed vertically, i. e., .at right angles to'the axes of the cans, and extending the entire length of the helix.

I In order to obtain the maximum can carrying capacity in a treating chamber .of. this type, it is necessary to space the pusher bars by a distance only, slightly greater than the can diameter. The arrangement of the track and the v usher bars requires that the cans be intro uced into the chamber from the side, 'and the small clearance between the successive bars necessitates quick and accurate positioning of the cans therebetween.

'- The bars. are assumed to be continuously moving.

The object of my present invention is to provide a means for introducing the cans quickly and accurately through the side Wall of a chamber of the above type, and positioning them on the helical track therein between the pusher bars. a

A further object is to provide a feeder adapted to receive the cans from a chute along which they advance by rolling upon their sides, and to feed them into the feed ing chamber. by pushing them endwise without changing the direction of their axes.

. Other objects and advantages of themvention will become apparent from the following specification which must be read with the understandingthat the form, construction and arrangement of the several arts may be varied Within the limits 0 the claims hereto appended without departing from the'spirit of the invention as expressed insaid cla ms.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described. with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of my. feeder showmg in section a portion of the treating chamber to which it is applied.

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections taken gspectively on the lines 2-2 and 33 of 'g. 1. In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a portion of the annular treatingchamber into which the cans are to be fed. 2 are the walls thereof, and 3 are the rails forming a helical track therein. The cans 4 roll on their sides along said track, and are propelled by, a' series of spaced pusher bars 5 6 in Fig 2 is a ring joining the lower ends of the bars 5, it being under-- stood that their upper ends are joined by a similar member, not shown, to form a rigid reel. Theouter wall of the chamber 1 is provided with an aperture '1 through which the cans are introduced. 3

A- chute 8, Figs. 1 and 3, brings the cans,

rolling upon their sides, to the apparatus. overlying the end portion of said chute is a worm 9 adapted to space and time the. advancing cans, and to feed them, successively into the pockets 10 of a continuously rotating turret .11. The turret 11 is mounted .upon a horizontal shaft 12, and is surrounded by a cylindrical housing 13- which retains the cans within the pockets 10. The housing I 13 is secured to the outer wall of the chamber 1 1n such a position that its lower portion is opposite the feed aperture 7. a

The turret '1-1, as shown in" Fig. 2, has an outward or rearward extension 14, in. which are mounted slidable push rods 15, there being'one such push rpd aligned with the center of .each pocket 10; The outer ends of the push rods 15 carry rollers 16 adapted to follow a grooved cam 17 formed in a fixed sleeve 18, which is secured to the end wall 19 of the housing. 13. Thus as the turret 11. revolves the push rods 15 are moved in and out horizontally by the cooperation of their rollers 16 and the grooved cam 17, and said cam is so formed as to cause the push rods 15 to .be retracted while passing the end of the feed chute 8, and to be moved inwardly when passing the chamber feed aperture 7 The cans are, therefore, fed into the I ockets 10 of the turret by theworm 9, an arccarried around in said pockets untilopposite the chambered aperture 7. At this point readilywithout catching. It is understood,

- ing operation,

.axes is not changed, the feeding I of course,

- purpose, well known in and the reel carrying the bars 5, are all driven in the proper timed relation; Any suitable means may be employed for this but as such a, drive mechanism is the art, it has been omitted from the drawings to prevent confusion. The grooved cam 17 must be so formed as to cause the cans 4.to be pushed into the spaces between the reel bars 5 quickly and accurately.

It is to be noted that the cans are under positive control at all times during the feedand that the direction of their into the chamber 1 being accomplished y sliding said cans endwise thereinto.

Iclaim: y 1

1. The combination with a track adapted for the rolling passage of a series of cans upon their sides, and a series of spaced pushers adapted to advance said cans along said'track, of means for feeding the cans onto said track from the side thereof by sliding them endwise between said ushers.

2. The combination with a trac adapted for the rolling passage of series of cans' upon their sides, and a series of spaced pushers for advancing said cans along said track, of a moving member having pockets adapted to receive the cans successively; and means for sliding the cans endwise out of said pockets and onto said tracli between said pushers.

3. The combination with a track adapted for the rolling'passage of a series of cans .upon their sides, and a series of spaced pushers adapted to advance said cans along said turret having ockets t e cans successive y; and

track, of a rotatin adapted to receive that the worm 9, the turret 11,,

means for sliding the cans endwise out of said pocketsand onto said track between said pushers.

4. The combination with a treating cham ber having a feed aperture in its wall, of a rotating turret positioned adjacent to said wall and provided with pockets adapted to receive a succession of cans; and means for sliding the cans endwise out of said pockets and through said aperture.

5. The combination with a treating chamber having a feed aperture in its wall, of a turret provided with a can receiving pocket; a push rod carried by said turret and adapted to engage the end of thecan within said ocket; and means for operating said push rod to slide the can endwise out of said turret and through said aperture.

'6. The combination with a treating chamber having a feed aperture in its wall, of a rotating turret having a can receiving pocket; a push rod carried by said turret and adapted to engage the end of the can in said pocket; and a-st-ationary cam adapted to engage and operate said push rod to cause it so slide the canendwise out of said pocket and through said aperture. I

7 The combination of a treating chamber having a feed aperture in its wall, of a rotating turret having a can receiving pocket; means for feeding a can into timed relation to the movement of said turret and means for sliding the can endwise,

out of said pocket and through said aperture. 8. The combination with a treating chamber having a feed of a rotating turret having a horizontal 'axis, and provided with can receiving pockets; means for retaining the cans within said said pock et in aperture in its side wall,

pockets a chute adapted to feed a rolling v series of cans upon their sides to said pockets; a worm overlying said chute for timing the entrance'of the cans into said pockets;

' and means for sliding the cans endwise .out

of said pockets and through the feed aper- 'ture of said chamber.- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON. 

